Youth Working Rights and Requirements: Wages, Ages and Breaks

Youth Working Rights and Requirements: Wages, Ages and Breaks

What Jobs may youths legally do? What are the standards are what are their rights? There is a Federal law, the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) and some separate state laws that define youth labor requirements and conditions.

Jobs Youth Can Do:

- 13 or younger: baby-sit, deliver newspapers, or work as an actor or performer
- Ages 14-15: office work, grocery store, retail store, restaurant, movie theater, or amusement park- Age 16-17: Any job not declared hazardous
- Age 18: No restrictions

Hours Youth Ages 14 and 15 Can Work:

Youth Minimum Wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act

- After 7 am and until 7 pm
- (Hours are extended to 9 pm June 1-Labor Day)
- Up to 3 hours on a school day
- Up to 18 hours in a school week
- Up to 8 hours on a non-school day
- Up to 40 hours in a non-school week

Note:

1. Different rules apply to youth employed in agriculture.
2. States also regulate the hours that youth under age 18 may work.

Enforcement, Compliance and Assistance

Contact the Wage-Hour Division to report a potential FLSA violation, at:

• Toll Free: (866) 4USWAGE (866-487-9243)

OSHA also has requirements and conditions to protect the safety of youths in the workplace

• See this page for more information and
• Call (800)321-OSHA immediately to report imminent dangers.

For your State's Information:

• State Labor Offices/State Labor Laws
• State Labor Offices - This is a list of all states and their labor office contact information for Offices, Commissioners, Directors, and Secretaries. Updated frequently!